Homecoming show for Laois singer who threads folk seamlessly

If you missed Emer’s recent performance at Forest Fest in Emo during the summer, here’s your chance to witness this amazing singer and band in this lovely intimate setting in The Balcony Theatre in Mountmellick Arts Centre on Culture Night.

Emer Dunne, a folk singer from Mountmellick, performs in the Balcony Theatre on Friday 22nd September with her musicians, Eamonn Moran (guitar) and Michael Harrison (fiddle).

This show will coincide with Emer’s Autumn theatre tour as she kicks off her show ‘Folk Threads’ in her home county before moving to The Dock Theatre, in Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim, Ballina Arts Centre in Mayo, Birr Arts Theatre in Offaly and the Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon.

“I feel very fortunate to be part of Culture Night and to perform in my hometown in this beautiful Arts Theatre. With thanks to Laois Arts and the Arts Council for making this event possible I hope that people come out to support it and enjoy an evening of music and song,” she said.

She continued: “Folk Threads’ is a diverse music show linking various threads of Irish, Scottish and American folk songs together. It also focuses on the ties between the timeless songs e.g. ‘Grace’, a song that gathered quite a reaction at Electric Picnic from the Wolftones, to more contemporary folk music. May you be lucky enough to enjoy a wonderful night of folk music and song. Sing along with the favourites including ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ and ‘Sweet Sixteen’ but also enjoy some contemporary surprises,” she said.

Since the release of Emer’s debut folk album, ‘Hourglass’ at the end of 2021, Emer has had a wonderful couple of years.

“I had a fabulous time touring various theatres and venues in Ireland with the ‘Hourglass Tour’ in ‘22. Already this year I’ve had the great opportunity to tour with the Fureys which brought me to the stages of dreams in the Gleneagle, Killarney, and Vicar Street in Dublin.

"Then the summer highlight was performing on the Forest Fest stage in Emo, with a six-piece band, and the audience and reception was fantastic. And now we are about to kick off this Autumn Tour for ’23,” she said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Emer’s voice has already hit the national and regional airwaves over the past few years with Ronan Collins and RTE 1’s Rising Time coming on board. However this girl has many accolades, from being approached by the management of Leonard Cohen, praising her version of his famous song, ‘Hallelujah’ to two no 1 singles and a no1 album in the Irish charts.

Emer has performed for Japanese and American Ambassadors, featured on the RTE Today show with Daithi and Maura and she has been reviewed with great praise by Irish Music Magazine, Hot Press, Irish Country Living, RTE Behind the Music, and more.

The Balcony Theatre in Mountmellick is a lovely setting which was recently reopened by Minister Heather Humphries after wonderful renovations to this cinema theatre, a one of its kind in the county hosting fantastic acoustics. The audience can enjoy comfortable tiered seating in this intimate setting.

‘Folk Threads’ is a show for all ages with well-known meaningful songs that have stood the test of time, to folk renditions of some contemporary classics. It is a wonderful opportunity for music lovers to witness a live show, experience the great song and music in store from Emer’s talented musicians and to sit back and enjoy an acoustic set from this trio. These musicians have a wealth of experience as performers and musicians. Eamonn Moran on guitar has previously worked with Emer on her headline gigs in Germany and Amsterdam, among others.

Michael Harrison is an All Ireland champion musician and a grandson of the famous fiddler Aggie Whyte.

The show kicks off at 8pm with a short interval for people to enjoy a chat with neighbours and friends before finishing around 10pm. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

So, tap your feet and clap your hands and sing along with the artists on stage on September 22nd.

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Culture Night is an annual national evening, celebrating culture, creativity, and the arts all over the country. Funded by the National Arts Council and local authorities.

Laois Arts Office, the public are invited out to attend various FREE cultural events around the country that celebrate and open pathways to various disciplines within the Irish Arts Culture.